KNIGHT SCORES 31 AS CATS ROLL 95-62 IN CANADA

Updated: 9:35 PM ET Sun, Aug. 15, 2010

Knight scores 31 to lead UK over Windsor

By Jerry Tipton / jtipton@herald-leader.com


Mark Cornelison | Staff

Brandon Knight put in two of his 30 points as Kentucky defeated the University of Windsor 95-62 in the Tip Off Classic on Sunday August 15, 2010 in Windsor, Ontario. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff



WINDSOR, Ontario — It’s August in Canada against a school many University of Kentucky fans surely did not know existed before this three-exhibition series. So the sober counsel not to compare new point guard Brandon Knight -- or anyone else, for that matter -- to John Wall remains sound.

But Knight gave a pretty good impersonation of a player who can take a game by the throat and propel his team to victory Sunday night. With the University of Windsor stubbornly hanging around late in the first half, the freshman from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., took charge and led UK to a 95-62 victory in this exhibition series opener.

Never did he look more like Wall than early in the second half. Like Wall, who in June became the first UK player ever selected with the first overall pick in a NBA draft, Knight acted boldly, decisively and, most importantly, effectively early in the second half.

After Windsor reduced Kentucky’s lead to 49-41, Knight needed only seven seconds to change the course of the game. He zipped downcourt a la Wall and scored in the lane while being fouled.

The three-point play put the Cats ahead 52-41. UK’s lead never returned to single digits again.

Knight, who reached the 30-point mark with 7:44 left, finished with 31 points. In a span of 17:40 in the middle of the game, he scored 25 points.

Darius Miller added four three-pointers and 18 points for UK.

Knight scored nine of his 15 first-half points in the final 5:24 to lead Kentucky to a 43-35 halftime lead. UK trailed 33-32 when Knight’s flurry changed the game. He hit a seemingly off-balance jumper from the right shot to get UK’s 11-2 run going.

Jon Hood’s fast-break dunk (the only non-Knight UK basket in the final 5:47 of the half), sparked the loudest cheer of the game, so far, from the largely partisan UK crowd.

After the cheering subsided, the fans started a U-K, U-K, U-K chant.

Exhibition aside, the UK fans made their displeasure with the referees known.

The first boos came 16 seconds into the game when Hood drove into hard contact and there was no call. The fans booed two other fouls or non-fouls inside the first 14 minutes.

In all three instances, the booes were mild, almost polite expressions of displeasure.
That changed with 1:40 left when Windsor’s Josh Collins tried for a steal as Doron Lamb caught an outlet pass. Lamb mostly avoided contact with Collins, but was called for walking. This brought a more full-throated booing.

After Hood’s fast-break dunk excited the crowd, Knight hit a three-pointer, two free throws and a purposeful driving banker.

Knight, who had a team-high five rebounds, two assists and no turnovers in 15 first-half minutes, was UK’s only first-half scorer in double figures. DeAndre Ligggins had eight points.

UK’s other first-half star was its defense. The Cats limited Windsor to 34.3-percent shooting (four of 16 from three-point range).

Darius Miller said he wanted to be more assertive and confident this season. Would he be? He said we’d see if he was on Sunday.

In the early minutes against Windsor, MIller looked the part. His rousing putback dunk put the Cats ahead 16-10 with 14:46 left. UK did not lead by more than six until Knight took charge down the stretch.

The game’s unlimited fouling helped. Miller picked up his second foul with 15:30 left, but stayed in the game. The exhibition series continues on Monday with a game against the University of Western Ontario. UK and Windsor will play again on Tuesday to complete the series.